Statement of NFFE National President William R. Dougan on Speaker Boehner Saying “So Be It” to Federal Job Cuts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cory Bythrow, Communications Director
Phone: (202) 255-9950

Washington, D.C. – At today’s GOP leadership press conference, responding to a question concerning the proposed continuing resolution, House Speaker John Boehner said the following:

"Over the last two years since President Obama has taken office, the federal government has added 200,000 new federal jobs. And if some of those jobs are lost in this, so be it.”

In response, NFFE National President William R. Dougan released the following statement:

“Speaker Boehner’s comments demonstrate a profound lack of appreciation for the critical role civil servants play in our communities, and in our economy. Cutting federal jobs in these tough economic times would only increase the squeeze that American families are already feeling.  Unemployment is high enough, we don’t need any more pink slips being handed down from Capitol Hill.

It is infuriating to see elected officials like John Boehner be so dismissive about laying off workers in these times. How out of touch can you be?  We are talking about people’s lives here. For lots of people in this economy, if they get laid off, there are no other jobs. These politicians are trying to score political points, and they’re doing it by targeting people’s livelihoods.

The cuts proposed by House Republicans represent a serious cutback in vital services to the American people while placing higher stress on state and federal unemployment programs. Federal employees are not just an expendable budget sweetener like pork barrel earmarks; they are our neighbors, and our family members, who contribute mightily to our nation’s security and wellbeing. They are the doctors and nurses who stand at the bedside of wounded warriors returning from Afghanistan and Iraq; they are the fire fighters who extinguish the wildfires that threaten homes, businesses, and schools out West; they are the Defense civilians who repair and rebuild the equipment our armed forces rely on.

For Speaker Boehner to show such a blatant disregard for their dedicated service is insulting. This demonstrates just how detached the new House leadership is from the lives of our nation’s hardworking federal employees, and the American people they serve. The overwhelming majority of the newly created federal jobs the Speaker referred to are related to national security and veterans’ care. Both missions are critical to the security of our country, and the well-being of our soldiers returning from overseas.

Federal employees proudly serve our nation every day. House leadership should not forget that.”